General information about the National Park
Congaree NP protects one of the last hardwood forests in the United States. It is a vast forest area that forms one of the highest, natural forest canopies in the world. In addition, the park is also a significant bird sanctuary. Congaree has been a national park since 2003.
Number of visitors
In 2023, Congaree NP ranked 51st in the visitor statistics for the most visited national parks.
Best time to visit: You can find pleasant conditions all year round.
Our visits:
So far 1 visit: October 2016
Entrance fees and opening hours
- Free of charge
- Covered by the Anual Pass*
- Open 24h all year round.
*The Anual Pass is so to speak the "flat rate" for all Parks managed by the National Park Service. The pass costs a one-time fee of $80 and can be purchased at the entrance to each National Park, National Monument, etc. The pass is valid for 13 months.
Congaree NP
Description: Congaree NP has a few trails to explore that lead through the different areas of the park. We chose the 2.4mi Boardwalk Loop Trail. This one takes you, mostly on planks, through a swamp area.
Our rating: Due to the foothills of a hurricane, which raged here two weeks before our visit, we could unfortunately not hike the entire loop. Parts of the planked path were destroyed by fallen trees and could not be walked on. So we had to turn back about halfway along the trail.
Since we like forests very much, we also liked it here quite well. However, there is really only forest here. So if you expect scenic diversity from a national park, you might be a little disappointed here.
Since this is a swamp area, be sure to keep an eye on the Mosquito Meter when visiting.
